Abstract

Background

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is associated with cerebral compromise, typically
found in patients with microangiopathy. Associations between subclinical macroangiopathy
and the brain, whether or not in the presence of microangiopathy, have not been fully
explored in T1DM. We hypothesized that subclinical macroangiopathy in adult T1DM may
affect the brain and interacts with microangiopathy.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that subclinical macroangiopathy may be a factor in the development
of diabetes-related cognitive changes in uncomplicated T1DM, whereas in patients with
advanced T1DM, proliferative retinopathy may rather be the driving force of cerebral
compromise.